046 – Interview: Deprescribing & Reducing Risky Medications in Aging

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with geriatrician Dr. Cara Tannenbaum about deprescribing, empowering older adults, and how to get off unneeded or risky medications. Dr. Tannenbaum holds a Professorship in Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Montreal and helped to found the Canadian Deprescribing Network. They discuss:

• Why it’s so common for older people to be on medications that could be deprescribed
• Why empower older adults to talk to their doctors about deprescribing
• How Dr. Tannenbaum developed the EMPOWER brochure, which resulted in 25% of participants being able to stop sedative medications such as lorazepam
• Common mistakes people make when they try to stop risky medications too quickly
• Which medications are especially important for seniors to consider deprescribing
• The six questions  you should regularly ask your doctors about your medications

Related Resources:

• The Canadian Deprescribing Network
• The EMPOWER Brochures
  • Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen(Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs)
  • Antipsychotic medication as sleeping pills or for dementia
  • Medications for allergies and itchiness (First-generation antihistamines)
  • Medication for type-2 diabetes (Sulfonylurea diabetes medication)
  • Sleeping pills & anti-anxiety medication(Sedative-hypnotic medication, such as Ativan, Ambien, and others)
  • Stomach pills for acid reflux (Proton-pump inhibitors)
• The 2015 American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria: Medications that Older Adults Should Avoid or Use with Caution
• 7 Common (Anticholinergic) Drugs That Are Toxic for Your Brain
• Starting a conversation and questions to ask your doctor about your medications
• Test Your Knowledge About Antipsychotics